Ex-Bush mouthpiece part of CT GOP convention lineup

Ari Fleischer, former White House press secretary under President George W. Bush, has been enlisted by the Connecticut GOP to add some pizazz to its May 18 state party convention in Hartford.

As if it didn’t have that already, with five endorsement sessions for Congress in the afternoon and a prime-time convention tilt for U.S. Senate headlined by Linda McMahon and Christopher Shays.

Fleischer, 51, who now works as a media consultant and is a frequent guest on the political talk show circuit, will speak at a luncheon for convention-goers.

Tickets are $75 per person before May 14, and $85 after.

State GOP Chairman Jerry Labriola Jr. says that this is the first time a set of speakers has been incorporated into the convention program.

“We’re trying to broaden the scope of our state convention to add an educational component to take advantage of the large gathering of Republicans at one place and time,” Labriola told Hearst Connecticut Newspapers.

Fleischer grew up in Pound Ridge, N.Y., just over the border from Stamford, Greenwich and New Canaan.

“He’s a good friend of the Connecticut Republican Party,” Labriola said. “He agreed to participate, and we really appreciate it.”